Delve Into The ProphetsSample

DAY 1 – THE STORY BEHIND THE PROPHETS

The books of the prophets are the second major division of the Old Testament. These books account for about a third of the Old Testament and one quarter of the whole Bible. God chose the prophets to bring the “word of the Lord” to Israel at urgent times in the nation’s life. Though they came from many different walks of life and lived under different historical conditions, as a group they nevertheless speak with a single voice. Indeed, they understand themselves to be speaking within a living tradition: many of them refer self-consciously to the words of the prophets who came before them. Their message is that true devotion to God must be expressed not just through outward religion, but through care for the weak, poor, and needy; through lives of moral purity; and through the pursuit of social and economic justice. 

The prophets typically delivered their messages by composing poetic oracles and reciting them in public settings. Many of these oracles may actually have been sung: the prophets sometimes refer to their oracles as “songs” or “laments.” The closing oracle of Habakkuk bears musical notations. But the prophets also used a wide variety of other means of communication, such as writing letters, giving sermons, explaining the meaning of signs that they observed or created, challenging the people with questions and then engaging them in dialogue, and sharing the content of visions that God gave them. Many of the prophets use the technique of a “covenant lawsuit,” gathering witnesses and marshaling evidence to make the case that Israel has disobeyed the requirements of the covenant between God and his people. While most of the prophets’ communication was initially oral, under various circumstances it was preserved in writing and guarded by their followers. Their message was finally embraced by a repentant nation and included in the Scriptures, where it still speaks to us today.

The prophets whose words have been collected for us in the Bible were active from around 750 BC to about 450 BC. Their activity is clustered around a few key periods. (We learn elsewhere in the Scriptures that other prophets, both men and women, spoke to the people of Israel both before and after these times.) 

PRAYER: Thank You for sending Your prophets to warn us, encourage us, and help us to know and serve You.